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Whinny and Neigh, Bark Bark, Meow, Snort (Hello)!

Blogging seemed necessary for me after Dad passed away in 2008. It was a way to slow my life down a bit and try to keep some precious memories alive through imagery and the written word. I come from a long line of farmers on Mom's side and it seems that I am inclined to follow that type of lifestyle. If you are interested in the old days check out the links below.

PROUD TO BE A...

Meet The Ponies!

Jessie, my perfect 'first' horse is now 26 yrs. old and a registered AQUA bay mare. Blue, my dominant Appendix, is a registered American Paint. Jessie loves her grass more than her mother and Blue loves eating (period) and 'herding' poor Jess. Both love eachother! Jessie is very smart and warned me of the fox who was within 7 feet of Callie.

LaQuinta, My Elegant and Athletic Egyptian Queen

While showing in Lexington, I stayed at the LaQuinta Hotel and all summer saw this poor cat who was too shy to be caught. On the third try, it took over an hour to convince her that she would be making a good decision!

Little Bear, Our First Baby

Mama Dog, a wild black lab mix who refused to be tamed, dropped two of her pups at our back steps of the new house. Little Bear rules all of her siblings and tries to rule her parents. She is a very good guard dog!

Nugget, The Boss of the Boys

Nugget arrived about a year after Little Bear. At first he refused to come in, so I would wrap him up in thick blankets during winter's cold nights. He is the best dog, and so gentle with children. But, his growl sounds like some monster from a scary movie, no kidding!

Rocky, Mama's Mountain Lion!

While photographing the huge Rockefeller barns at the Rolling Rock Hunt Club in Ligonier, PA, I sadly spotted a dead black cat near the road lying in the grass. When I stood up, an older kitten approached me sporting a white bulging eye. He let me pick him up and off we went to find a vet!

Coty, Everyone Wants To Take Him Home!

While riding Blue in the big field, I heard the dogs barking. My heart sank as I couldn't see well but thought I saw a coyote. We trotted across the field only to find a terribly thin stray in need of our home. Coty is a superb watch dog!

Sammy, Mama's Shy Boy

Sleak beautiful Sammy was watching over Black Jack on a little hill as he laid dead in the ditch beside the highway. He heard my screams of anguish as I picked up our gorgeous brother of Little Bear. Two months later, he chose to live with us.

Callie, My First Barn Cat

One June day, something thin and dark hesitantly showed herself near the entrance of the barn. With a weak meow, she told me she wanted to stay at the barn, pleasing me to no end! Callie is the most patient cat and the only cat who allowed me to put 'antlers' on her head for Christmas.

Cricket, My First Kitten!

Something told me Callie was pregant though she did not show. She was so proud to introduce me to my first and only Grandcat! I never had a kitten before and this cat has totally melted my heart! He is rotten to the core and frequently must be reprimanded with the dreaded 'Love Jail'. Grammie holds him like a baby and pets him gently despite the awful protests that escape his strong jaws. He only receives 'Love Jail' after a vicious tackle that includes biting his mother's back and knocking her over. After his release, he immediately rubs my leg with his 15-inch long tail!

Princess, A Gift from God

The day after Cricket was born, Little Bear let out a weird bark. I discovered a gorgeous long haired cat perched in the corner of the unfinished side porch where the dogs cannot access. Still beautiful despite being starved and bone thin, Princess has become just that...a princess! She does what she wants but she makes up for it by being the most affectionate cat in the world giving lots of kitty kisses.

Daddy Cat

Daddy Cat was wild! After a year of daily feedings, long begging sessions and quiet study while he hid safely under the horse trailer, I finally won his trust. He now resides in the barn separated from Callie and Cricket who stay in the tack room. Daddy Cat is extremely vocal and affectionate, always thanking his Mama for his new home.

Sharing Farm Tails With You!

Thank You Ali!

Attitude of Gratitude Award

Thank You Ali!

Click on the award and visit Blessed Country Mom

Thank You Paint Girl!

Click on the award and visit Paint Girl!

Thank You JC!

Click on the award and visit Lilacs and Cats

Thank You Leslie!

Click on the award and visit In The Shadow of Juniper Hill

Thank You Stephanie!

Click on the award and visit The Life of A Farmer's Wife

Friday, June 25, 2010

It has been so long since I last posted....ugh oh, sounds like the beginning of 'confession' for all of you Catholics out there. Like you, life got busy and after a chilly spring, I relished getting outside as much as possible!

My deer seem fine but disappeared for over 60 days offering me only a few sightings but come May they began their nightly trek to the corn yard. Bossy Boy still sports a partial arrow behind his right shoulder. Brownie has not given birth to her twins yet nor has Cocoa given birth to her first fawn but Bossy, Brave One and Shy One all show the telling 'dent' where the tiny fawn(s) once were.

Brave One positioned little 'Clover' out in the middle of the First Field again just as she did Sunny the year before, but due to visitors at the farm being a bit too nosey and getting too close, she decided that was not a good idea. Good for her! Baby Clover didn't need to be baking in that hot sun!

Ringo is growing a nice rack as is little Buttons (already!) who I fear will be like my Nub, taken too early in life for a yearling. Ringo is 2, Buttons is only 1 year old. Bandit still hangs with Bossy Boy and Tanner hangs with Ringo both two year olds looking up to the wiser and older big boys! But my little BB, Nub, Long Horn boys, Beauty's Boy from last year and the older Twin have not shown up this spring. Sigh..... Patty Pat, Limp and Runt survived the killing season and hopefully have given birth and are doing fine. Beauty's Boy who is so light in color has no friends and has yet to hang with other little button bucks. I hope Beauty is ok...

The yearling girls are cute! Shy Girl is very friendly unlike her mother Shy One, and Sunny is very shy unlike her mother Brave One! Brownie's 2 year old Cocoa has decided to be like her Aunt Bossy and push everyone away from the corn. Brownie's Little Peanut is so sweet but not as brave as her twin, dear little Buttons who touched the back of my hand with his moist nose a week ago. A first for me! Brownie won't even do that and I have known her for 4 years!! What a thrill, what a gift to be given from my darling deer!

About Me

After living 15 years in a very beautiful urban setting on top of my husband's highrise, it became obvious that I was out of place. I began riding about 12 years ago, purchased an awesome sport horse and competed in novice eventing. I needed to find all of us a beautiful place to live so that I could be the one to care for my Jessie, not a hired farm hand at a boarding barn that might close on a whim. We were blessed to find our old historic 80 acre farm tucked away in the woods that surround scenic fields. Hailing from generations of Vermont farmers and horse lovers, I felt right at home. I could now have another horse, dogs, more cats, plant flowers, grow veggies, mow the yard, feed and hear the birds chirping, listen to frogs, walk in the woods, and do all the things we did as kids. Kudos to my awesome husband. Without him, I would not be able to experience these blessings that God has bestowed upon Woodfield and all of its inhabitants.